Woman faces charges after dogs attack golden retriever

By Susan Morse

smorse@seacoastonline.com

February 13, 2013 - 5:50 PM

YORK, Maine — A local woman is charged with keeping dangerous dogs after her two unrestrained pets ran into the road and attacked a golden retriever being walked by its owner, according to York Animal Control Officer Larry McAfee.

The golden retriever named Twinkle suffered serious injury but survived, McAfee said.Patricia Spadafora, 60, 19 Greenacre Drive, is charged with a violation of keeping dangerous dogs and an ordinance violation of failure to control dogs, according to McAfee.

She was issued the summons on both charges Feb. 7, for the attack that allegedly occurred in front of her home around 8:45 p.m., Feb. 2, according to McAfee. Unprovoked, Spadafora’s blue heeler, an Australian cattle dog named Jewelz, and her hound-like catahoula named Daisy, attacked the golden retriever, McAfee said.

“One dog got Twinkle by the throat,” he said.

The two dogs pulled the golden retriever to the ground on its back, and “kept biting,” McAfee said. Twinkle suffered puncture wounds and bruises. The dog was treated by a veterinarian, he said. Twinkle’s owner was bitten on the ankle in the fray, but the bite did not puncture the skin, he said.

Spadafora is scheduled to appear in York District Court March 20, to answer the charges. She faces a $100 to $500 fine on the charge of failure to control dogs, and a $250 to $1,000 fine on the charge of keeping dangerous dogs, McAfee said.

The court could also mandate muzzling and tethering, he said, but would likely not order the dogs be put down, though that is allowed under the state statute, for the first offense.